Supplemental blind-latch



N0. 6ll,235. Patent ed Sept. 27, I898.

H. a. CLEAVEL'AND. SUPPLEMENTAL BLIND LATCH.

(Application filed July 21, 1897.)

(No Model.)

UNITED S PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. OLEAVELAND, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SUPPLEMENTAL BLlND LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,235, dated September 2'7, 1898. Application filed July 21,1897. Serial No. 645,332. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY G. CLEAVELAND,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Newthe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates to a supplemental latch adapted to be attached to the blind by the ordinary or common blind-latch or to the catch upon the window-sill with which the ordinary latch engages and which is used for the purpose of maintaining a blind in an almost closed position when an outside windowscreen is employed, which prevents the blind from being closed upon the sill and an engagement between its ordinary latch and catch to be made, or when for any other reason the blind cannot be fully closed to make such engagement possible.

In the drawings, Figure l 'is a viewin perspective of a portion of a window-sill and blind latch and auxiliary latch attached thereto, representing the blind as held closed by the auxiliary latch and the auxiliary latch in engagement with the stationary catch on the window-sill. Fig. 2 is a view, enlarged and in perspective, of the auxiliary latch removed from the blind-latch. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section through a portion of the blind and window-sill, showing in elevation the auxiliary latch and the holding-catch. Fig. 4 is a View in perspective representing the auxiliary latch as applied to the stationary catch of the window-sill instead of to the latch of the blind and as engaging the latch of the blind.

A represents the auxiliary latch. It is preferably made of wire, although not necessarily so, and it has at one end a cross-bar a, from each end of which extend the arms a o of similar shape, each arm having the single coil a the backward extension 0. therefrom, the curved end a the return-section a first bent inward to the point M, then at a less inclination to thepoint a and then sharply to ,the end. The coils form springs which act in opposition to the downward movement of the bar a and arms a a when the auxiliary latch is fastened to the main blind-latch, as in Fig. 1, and in opposition to the upward movement of said bar a and arms a a when the auxiliary latch is fastened to the stationthe latch is adapted to be locked, in connection with the rear section a of the coils, to the bar I) of the blind-latch B or to the bar b of the stationary catch B, the end extending from the corner a being yielding and opening away from the section a of the coils sufficiently to permit the latch to be slipped or pressed onto the bar I) or b,'which enters the space beyond, the ends then springing backward to their original position and forming, in connection with the coils, means for looking the auxiliary latch to the bar in such a manner as to prevent its being moved or slipped off of the same. Theextensions of the ends are of such length and shape as to bear by the portions. beyond the bends a against the under surfaceof the blind when the auxiliary latch is brought to a position to engage the catch or against the window-sill, as shown in Fig. 4, and they then act as stops and stays, While the additional movement of the bar a, necessary for making engagement with the catch or latch, as the case may be, is obtained by the yielding of the coils a When the auxiliary latch is not used, it need not be removed'from its holding-bar, but will swing from the latch-bar and still permit the main latch to make engagement with the catch. It will also not interfere when attached to the catch with" the engagement of the main blind-latch with the catch. It will be seen that it is readily applied to the blind latch or to the catch and that it is held thereto by means afforded by the peculiar shape of the end sections acting in conjunction with the sections of the coils and that the extensions of the ends act as stopsas the auxiliary latch is lifted or depressed to engage the catch or latch, which causes a' compression of the coils sufiicient to hold the bar a of the auxiliary latch in the notch of the catch, as represented in Fig. 1, or in the notch of the latch, as represented in Fig. 4., the coils serving to exert a constant pressure upon the bar a dur= ing such engagement and thereby holding it at the inner end of said notch.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. An auxiliary blind-latch having at one end a cross-bar a, at the other end hooks or means for attaching the cross-bar to a blind latch or catch in a manner to permit the crossbar to be swung vertically in relation thereto, and a spring in said latch which is non-operative when the cross-bar is in its lowest or removed position and is made operative by the bringing of the cross-bar to operative or engaging position, and which then acts to hold the cross-bar in engaging position.

2. The combination of a blind-latch and a blind-catch adapted to make ordinary en gagement with each other in looking the blind in its closed position, and an auxiliary blindlatch having at one end a cross-bar and at the other end means for detachably securing it to the blind latch or catch and arranged to permit of the engagement of the main latch and the catch to fully close the blind or the engagement of the auxiliary latch with the catch or latch to hold the blind partially open, or to be disengaged from the latch or catch to permit the free swinging of the blind.

3. An auxiliary blind-latch comprising a loop having at one end a locking-bar to engage a catch or latch and at the other end a means'for securing it to a latch or catch comprising sections of the loop bent to form holding hooks or eyes having yielding entrances.

4:. A blind-latch having a locking-bar, springs for permitting vertical movement of the bar and for holding it in engagement with a latch or catch, and means cooperating with sections of the springs to form attaching devices and having steadyin g extensions or stays therefrom.

5. The blind-latch herein described, made of a single piece of metal and shaped to provide the arms a, a the bar a, the springs a the extensions a the return-section a bent inward and shaped as specified, as and for the purposes set forth.

HENRY G. CLEAVELAND.

\Vitnesses:

F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, J. M. DOLAN. 

